Should Tourists Watch Vultures Eat the Dead?

In the ancient practice of Tibetan sky burial, a human corpse is placed on a mountaintop to be eaten by birds of prey, most commonly vultures. The tradition symbolizes the impermanence of life for Buddhists and is also a sustainable burial method. The ceremony has recently begun to attract tourists, who photograph and film the event. The Banff Centre goes behind the scenes with filmmaker Russell O. Bush to discuss his documentary, Vultures of Tibet, which explores the ethics that surround sky burial tourism.

The Short Film Showcase spotlights exceptional short videos created by filmmakers from around the web and selected by National Geographic editors. We look for work that affirms National Geographic's mission of inspiring people to care about the planet. The filmmakers created the content presented, and the opinions expressed are their own, not those of the National Geographic Society.

Should Tourists Watch Vultures Eat the Dead?

In the ancient practice of Tibetan sky burial, a human corpse is placed on a mountaintop to be eaten by birds of prey, most commonly vultures. The tradition symbolizes the impermanence of life for Buddhists and is also a sustainable burial method. The ceremony has recently begun to attract tourists, who photograph and film the event. The Banff Centre goes behind the scenes with filmmaker Russell O. Bush to discuss his documentary, Vultures of Tibet, which explores the ethics that surround sky burial tourism.

The Short Film Showcase spotlights exceptional short videos created by filmmakers from around the web and selected by National Geographic editors. We look for work that affirms National Geographic's mission of inspiring people to care about the planet. The filmmakers created the content presented, and the opinions expressed are their own, not those of the National Geographic Society.